Zionsville Magazine August 2020

AUGUST 2020

MAGAZINE

Taking the Lead

Emily Styron Talks Navigating COVID-19, Becoming Zionsville’s First Female Mayor & Long-Term Goals

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AUGUST PHOTOGRAPHERS Amy Payne / Michael Durr

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TAKING THE LEAD: EMILY STYRON TALKS NAVIGATING COVID-19, BECOMING ZIONSVILLE’S FIRST FEMALE MAYOR & LONG-TERM GOALS

After the 2016 election cycle, Emily Styron read a book called “Run for Something”, and the message resonated with her. “I thought I’d run for Town Council and that would be my ‘run for something’ effort,” says Styron, who had the requisite skills to work at the municipal or community level, given her 25 years of experience working in central Indiana on local and regional higher education management issues.

4 Made the Old-Fashioned Way:

Donaldson’s Finer Chocolates Celebrates 50-Plus Years In Boone County

8 One-On-One: Boone County

Mentoring Partnership Pairs Up Mentors With Local Youth

10 Taking the Lead: Emily Styron Talks Navigating COVID-19, Becoming Zionsville’s First Female Mayor & Long-Term Goals

14 10 Tips to Get You and Your Kids Ready for the School Year

17 Creation Station: Palette

Community Art Center Invites Local Residents to Partake in Art

21 Bike to Be Heard: Boone County

Bike Ride Promotes Social Justice & Diversity

Help our local economy by shopping local.

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Made the Old -Fashioned Way

Donaldson’s Finer Chocolates Celebrates 50-Plus Years In Boone County

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Owners Bob & Kathy Donaldson

George didn’t quit his day job, which was vice and went to work, full-time, at the chocolate president of a local bank. Peg ran the store for shop with Peg. In 1989, the couple invested much of the day. in additions and equipment. Sales really took They say love makes the world go round. off from there as the business began to gain Well, love and chocolate. George and Peg “Small-town bankers worked 9-3 with an traction and regular corporate clients. In fact, Donaldson knew that when they purchased hour off for lunch so it was a pretty good gig,” they have more than 100 corporate accounts Donaldson’s Finer Chocolates (formerly says Bob, who was 11 years old at the time. who do annual gifts each Christmas.

Callane’s Finer Candies) from the original “Dad went to the store after work so mom owner in 1966. The business started in a twocould come home and take care of me and Bob and his wife Kathy had their own room schoolhouse on old 52, one mile north my siblings.” careers for 40 years. Bob ran development of Lebanon. construction companies while Kathy worked In 1972, when I-65 was built between as a critical care nurse at St. Vincent. In “The previous owners were a retired couple Indianapolis and Chicago, the Donaldsons 2010, George, 80 at the time, wanted help who ran this business as a hobby. They made relocated the store to an old farmhouse, in running the store — an understandable maybe eight to 10 pieces. They had no phone, request. which they refurbished. Situated at the no air conditioning. I don’t know how they interchange, the location was a huge blessing did it,” says Bob Donaldson, George & Peg’s “My mom died in 1994 so dad carried that in terms of accessibility to customers. son and current owner of Donaldson’s Finer business for 20-plus years on his own, which Chocolates. is pretty incredible,” says Bob, who always “Our lifeline is I-65. It’s always really helped knew that he would ultimately take the reins our business,” Bob says.

When George and Peg bought the and continue running the family business. establishment, they doubled the recipes Doing so brought he and Kathy full circle as His father retired from banking in his 50s and expanded into chocolate molds. But WriWriter / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Amy Payne

atZionsville.com / AUGUST 2020 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / 5

she worked at the chocolate shop when they were teenagers.

They say that running the store is a great way to spend the second stage of their lives. It’s also a wonderful way to stay engaged with the community they adore. Bob and Kathy, Zionsville residents for the past 40 years, have regularly supported nonprofits and community businesses, usually by donating chocolates to events, raffles and fundraisers.

“I get calls every week from somebody who is doing something special, but I’ve never turned anyone down,” Bob says. “Every one of their stories has touched us.”

Bob’s favorite part of running Donaldson’s Finer Chocolates is interacting with the clientele. He suspects it’s a quality he inherited from his dad.

“Dad knew everybody and was really good with names,” Bob says. “He worked up until a month before he died.” (George passed away in January 2019.)

Last year, Donaldson’s Finer Chocolates was nationally recognized when they were listed as one of the top 12 U.S. confectioners making their mark on the confectionery and chocolate industry by producing all of their chocolates the old-fashioned way, with fresh creamery butter, whole milk, pure cane sugar and premium chocolate. Their superior quality has stood the test of time — 54 years to be exact. That’s due, in part, to making small batches daily to keep it fresh.

“You’re never going to get something that’s been on the shelf for three or four months,” says Bob, adding that folks love to step inside the store just to experience the atmosphere.

“They want to smell it, see it and then have a nice chat.”

He suspects that particularly in these unusual times, people find relief and comfort in the familiarity of chocolate. Though they are doing a lot more shipping and curbside pickup and have to limit the amount of bodies inside their 500 sq. ft. retail section of the store, they are happy to still be spreading

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the joy of chocolate.

Selling more than 70 different items, they are known for their scrumptious caramels. Their pecan delights are top sellers, as are dark chocolate treats. In fact, they created a dark chocolate line called Dark Select that is 64% cocoa (as opposed to the typical 49%).

Though people enjoy indulging in tasty treats and good conversation, Bob recognizes that they are primarily a gift business.

“People don’t buy a 5-pound box of chocolates for themselves. Actually,” he adds laughing, “they get the big box for someone else and buy a small box for themselves to eat on the drive home.”

Donaldson’s Finer Chocolates is located at 600 S. State Road 39 (Jct. I-65 and SR 39) in Lebanon. For more information, call 765-482-3334 or visit donaldsonschocolates.com.

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One-On-One Boone County Mentoring Partnership Pairs Up Mentors With Local Youth Those local leaders in Lebanon promptly set to work implementing a graduation program at Lebanon High School as well as a The Lebanon-based Boone County mentoring initiative for local kids, and former Mentoring Partnership (BCMP) was Mayor Harold “Huck” Lewis held a dinner to officially launched as a nonprofit organization raise funds for the two projects. in 2015, but the seeds of the program were planted more than a decade ago.

“At that point, we were housed at the Boys & Girls Club, and then in 2015 the decision “The partnership really started back when was made to officially launch the BCMP and a group of community leaders and business put the focus primarily on mentoring,” says people attended a State Farm-sponsored Wilson, who joined the organization four symposium and learned of the critical need years ago. for mentoring, and helping at-risk kids,” says Matt Wilson, executive director for the With a background in youth ministry BCMP. “They learned at that conference and counseling, Wilson says many kids that for every kid who drops out of high throughout Lebanon and surrounding school, it costs their community between communities are in need of a structured $300,000 and $500,000 over the course of mentoring program for a wide age range. the following 20 years.”

Writer / Jon Shoulders Photography Provided

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“I was talking to so many kids in our community and was constantly thinking about what a good mentoring program would look like, then I found out about the BCMP and quickly joined forces,” he says, adding that the BCMP serves kids aged 8 to 17 and can sometimes accommodate younger ages on a case-by-case basis.

Wilson says the organization strives to match mentors and mentees based on personality and areas of interest, as well as geographical proximity.

“It’s a community-based program, and there are a lot of things to do locally for the mentors and mentees,” he says. “We try to host at least bimonthly group events - that is before COVID, and hopefully it will resume again soon - and we’ve done a bowling party,

baseball games, a pool party, and events at Dull’s Tree Farm.”

The BCMP has also forged a partnership with the Witham Family YMCA, through which mentors and mentees are encouraged to use the YMCA amenities, and BCMP participants can also enjoy reduced admission rates at the Hoosier Heights indoor rock climbing facility in Indy.

“We do have a lot of events and things mentors can do with their mentees, but it may be something as simple as grabbing a bite to eat or hanging out at a park,” Wilson says. “You can go and play basketball, go to the library or make a model car. There’s a wide range of things that people can do.

Some mentors have even helped kids learn new skills like painting or woodwork.”

While the BCMP serves a wide age range, Wilson says the majority of kids involved are in their middle school years.

“I’m convinced that if we can’t reach a kid by the eighth grade, it’s so much harder to get them engaged,” he says.

Mentors can expect to attend quarterly training sessions, after initial one-on-one training when mentors sign on for the program. A bachelor’s degree is not required, and mentors undergo background and reference checks as well as an interview process.

“We also offer various materials and helpful resources for mentors to use as they wish,” Wilson says, adding that the BCMP currently has approximately 100 mentormentee pairings as well as a few mentors on a waitlist. “We want to be able to make the best match possible, and we won’t force matches to happen if, say, mentor A isn’t a good fit for mentee C.” Since the coronavirus outbreak began in the U.S. earlier this year, BCMP leaders have encouraged mentors to spend time with mentees virtually via FaceTime and Zoom video connection and keep in touch with mentees at least once per week.

“We know this is a critical time for kids really for everyone - and there are a lot of atZionsville.com / AUGUST 2020 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / 9

kids confined to their apartment or home and need to socialize in some way or other,” Wilson says. “We purchased some art kits through Myart in Zionsville, where the mentor and mentee both have kits and share their progress from a distance.”

Wilson says now is a more critical time than ever for locals to volunteer as mentors for local kids in need.

“We can’t just sit back and expect other people to come forward,” he says. “Even one hour a week can make a difference in a kid’s life. There’s so much untapped potential, creativity and innovation in these kids and a lot of them just need a positive voice to come out and let them know they can do great things.”

The Boone County Mentoring Partnership is headquartered at 404 West Camp Street in Lebanon. For more details including information on becoming a mentor, call 765-335-0000 and visit boonecountymentoring.org.

Taking the Lead

Emily Styron Talks Navigating COVID-19, Becoming Zionsville’s First Female Mayor & Long-Term Goals

The more I learned while prepping for my run for Town Council, I realized that I wouldn’t be satisfied in that position. I wanted to run for mayor.

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Amy Payne

After the 2016 election cycle, Emily Styron read a book called “Run for Something”, and the message resonated with her.

“I thought I’d run for Town Council and that would be my ‘run for something’ effort,” says Styron, who had the requisite skills to work at the municipal or community level, given her 25 years of experience working in central Indiana on local and regional higher education management issues.

As she began to read about how Zionsville had grown, however, she recognized that a lot of opportunities were being missed. The town was trailing every community around Indy in terms of economic development.

Zionsville had not introduced any amenities to the parks system in quite some time.

In addition, it seemed like the town was spending money in places that didn’t make much sense.

“The more I learned while prepping for my run for Town Council, I realized that I wouldn’t be satisfied in that position,” Styron says. “I wanted to run for mayor.”

“Oftentimes we hear more emotional and philosophical issues talked about in political campaigns, but when working at the municipal level, it’s more nuts and bolts,” Styron says. “It’s about the actual work and the professional experience someone brings to a role to manage day-to-day operations at the town level.”

As the first female mayor of Zionsville, Styron is adding more professional capacity to the town governance and has hired a chief financial officer, a new police chief, a human resources director and a new parks superintendent.

Styron, a longtime Zionsville resident, won and took the position on January 1 of this year. She was thrilled and a little surprised, given that a democrat had not run in Boone County and gained an executive-level position in the past 20 years. She’s eager to do Taking office in 2020 has been interesting to say the least. Styron wasn’t fazed, however, as her part to solve some of the town’s growth issues related parking and road infrastructure. she drew on her past experience working for Mayor Steve Goldsmith’s administration. atZionsville.com / AUGUST 2020 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / 11

“I was the chief information officer for the city of Indianapolis and Y2K officer as it related to the management of the technology effort,” Styron says. “We didn’t know what was going to happen when January 1, 2000, came so we prepared for a lot of scenarios and contingency plans.”

She learned how to effectively coordinate and communicate, as she and her team looked at different mitigation levels for an unknown risk. When COVID-19 hit, she revisited that headspace.

“I knew immediately that we needed to take a broad approach for getting and sharing information,” says Styron, who appointed

the fire chief to be emergency management lead regarding staff protocol during the pandemic.

Styron also talked to the superintendent of schools and one of the county commissioners to ensure they were all in sync regarding closures and vacation strategies, and that all decisions were grounded in public health.

“I think one of the reasons Boone County did not see early surge numbers was because of that initial coordination with the Town of Zionsville,” says Styron, noting that while the coronavirus changed the town leaders’ priorities, it didn’t change the basic building blocks of good governance. “It was not me

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doing something. It was me working with the Town Council and others as a collective whole to treat a public health situation.”

While health and safety protocols are still in effect, the town leaders have worked hard to find ways to support local businesses while encouraging safe socializing among patrons.

For instance, the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce partnered with the Town of Zionsville to create “Night on the Bricks” evenings, which ran each Thursday evening in June and July. The event was a huge hit that grew bigger every week with people bringing blankets so they could sit down and eat, then stroll back and forth to shop different retailers.

“This public health emergency has taken a horrible toll on retailers and dining establishments, but this one small effort helped to increase traffic,” says Styron, who suspects that the event will return next year.

“It really is like a festival with people of every age coming to have a great time.”

Looking to the future, one of Styron’s top priorities is planning for a community center so that residents don’t have to drive to the Monon Community Center in Carmel. She and her fellow leaders are actively talking

with partners and encouraging the parks board to join the effort.

“While I can’t set priorities for the parks department specifically, I can build relationships with the parks board and share our priorities with them,” says Styron, who would like to see plans in motion by year’s end.

She’s also interested in building a dog park.

Her main goal during this administration is to transform the entryway to the town that has been in an undeveloped state for some time.

“We’re going to turn that area into something that we all feel proud of, and are excited about when we drive in to Main Street Zionsville,” Styron says. “People crave leadership, planning and direction. There’s a real synergy happening here as we mobilize more opportunities for change that is long overdue.”

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Writer / Shelly Bergman

With the first day of school lingering in the not-so-distant future, you’re probably feeling both excited and overwhelmed, especially with COVID-19 casting doubt on just what school will look like for most students and families this year.

From creating healthy sleep habits and establishing a good morning routine to handling back-to-school anxiety and learning how to make communication more manageable, we’ve got 10 general back to school tips and tricks for parents to help make this school year a good one for your family!

1. MAKE A COUNTDOWN Using a calendar, paper chain or whiteboard, start a countdown a couple weeks before school. With this countdown ease into their school routine with bedtime, setting out their clothes for the next day and when they'll be waking up. It'll be hard to stick to those routines while wanting to get in as much fun as you can, but it will help the transition immensely for you and your kids if you start early.

2. POSITIVE ATTITUDE You know that your child will reap the benefits of going to school. Try to keep any anxiety or stress you may have from showing to your child.

3. VISIT THE SCHOOL (IF POSSIBLE)

This is a great practice for young kids starting preschool or Kindergarten. It is equally great for children entering a new school. Map out their classes and let them try out their locker. Park where they will park and walk in, making their first day of school more familiar.

4. MORNING ROUTINE Routine is the key word here. It may take a few weeks or even months to figure out the perfect routine for your family, but once you've got it, stick with it. Write it out or discuss it with your kids to let them know how you'd like to see the morning go. Have them help you figure out what works best for them.

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5. EVENING ROUTINE Although morning routines help with the ease into a new day, setting up an evening routine can make that morning routine breeze by. Again, see what works best for your family. Maybe make a chart or an evening routine clock that shows what things they need to accomplish before lights out. Do as much as you can the night before so the next morning is simple (set out clothes, make lunches, look at the week ahead etc.)

6. GO SCHOOL SHOPPING Head to the store for their favorite foods in their packed lunch. Purchase the necessary school supplies or even a new First Day outfit. Get haircuts. Having a day with them to prepare for the new year ahead will let your kids know you want to make this as easy and as fun as possible for them.

7. MAKE A DROP ZONE Talk to your child about homework rules and where they should put papers that need to be looked at or signed. Have enough

space for each child's backpack, shoes, water bottles or anything else they will be carrying home from school so there is no frustration in the morning to find these items. Make sure they know it's their space and their responsibility to keep their items there.

8. MAKE A CALENDAR Add all of the holidays and school info and hang it where your child can see it. If they join a club or sport, have them write in their games or practice dates and times to let them have a little responsibility over knowing when their time is scheduled.

If you have a younger child, use stickers to let them know which days they have games or practices. Starting this habit of letting them schedule their time will help them decide what is too much on their plate.

9. BE PRESENT As tempting as it is to tell our kids they have nothing to worry about as a way to distract them, sometimes the best thing we can do as parents is to simply listen.

If your child is finding school stressful, allow him or her to put their feelings into words so you can figure out exactly what is bothering them and (hopefully) find a solution to their worries. Spend 5 to 10 minutes connecting with each child in the morning or evening routine, with your phone put away. Talk about who they're excited to see or what they're going to do at recess. If they are nervous for the week ahead, brainstorm a family activity for the weekend.

10. OUTSOURCE YOUR TIME Know that it's okay to ask for help. Figure out what is taking up a lot of your time, therefore, keeping you from your family.

Is there a way to pay to have it done by someone else? Hire a cleaning service, utilize grocery pick up or delivery, make crock-pot meals, carpool with other parents for practices. There are many ways to simplify if you are able to step back and see what needs to be adjusted.

atZionsville.com / AUGUST 2020 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / 15

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Creation Station

Palette Community Art Center Invites Local Residents to Partake in Art

atZionsville.com / AUGUST 2020 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / 17

good way to learn,” explains Cisneros, a mother of two (Penelope, 9, and Sterling, 2).

Though it can be intimidating for some children to embrace the notion of failing given the negative connotation associated with the word, failure can open up new possibilities at Cisneros’ facility.

“There’s always an opportunity for growth even if it’s not in the direction you expected,” Cisneros says.

According to Cisneros, the most important factor when approaching a project at the studio is to not expect a specific outcome. It’s all about abandoning the notion that there is a right and a wrong way of doing things, and simply appreciating the process.

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

Street and there are all these shops and restaurants - then there’s this strange little 500-square-foot space that’s just for making a huge mess,” Cisneros says with a chuckle.

For as long as she can remember, art has been Rebecca Cisneros’ passion. She loved it as a kid, she practiced it all through school, And making a mess is precisely the point. She and after graduating from Zionsville High even had the floors epoxied so that students School in 2006, she pursued a fine arts degree can go crazy. at Herron School of Art and Design with a focus in painting.

“Getting the chance to expose younger kids to that sort of creativity and exploratory “Having an art practice has taught me how experience is really good for them - especially to be present and how to appreciate beauty since in school they have to follow so many in many forms,” Cisneros says. “Being in an rules, leaving little room for exploration and artistic flow keeps me present, and connects discovery,” says Cisneros, who focuses on me to life in a way that is unique and human.” process-based, rather than product-focused, She previously worked in the Zionsville art.

Community Schools Universal Preschool, and enjoyed introducing different kinds of This process means that students won’t art to young minds. Still, she felt compelled always take art home, as the focus is not on to do more. individual projects but rather on the journey.

Part of that journey involves failing, which “I wanted to combine art-making with can be a beautiful thing in the eyes of an teaching experience, so in 2016 I opened artist. the Palette Community Art Center,” says Cisneros, noting that the business recently “We are lovers of failure here because we moved to a new location on Main Street. realize that if something doesn’t work out, something else works better, which is a really “It’s fun because you’re walking down Main 18 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2020 / atZionsville.com

“When a child, or anyone, learns art appreciation, they are also learning to appreciate other people’s life experiences and perspectives, and seeing beauty in other people connects us to each other,” Cisneros says. “I cannot say enough about the profound benefits that come from an art practice.”

Though Cisneros is a commissioned painter, at the Palette Community Art Center participants tackle many mediums including weaving, ceramics, printmaking, kinetic art and more. Cisneros invites artists of all kinds to teach at the studio, and she welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with additional teachers.

Owner Rebecca Cisneros

“I think of this as a neighborhood art studio, and I’m all about involving the community,” says Cisneros, who recently joined the Zionsville Cultural District board. “This is meant to be a space for creating all kinds of art - writing, performance art, all of that.”

Cisneros holds day camps throughout the year during school breaks, but the most sought-after camps are held in the summer, and are available in both half- and full-day formats. This year’s themes revolve around concepts such as friendship, animals, amusement parks, bugs, unicorns, and - the most popular - Harry Potter.

“For Harry Potter, I’ll do the art and then a science teacher from Pike is going to do these cool things like creating invisible ink and teaching light refraction,” Cisneros says.

The studio’s leaders also utilize local parks during summer camps, including Lions Park, Lincoln Park and Elm Street Green Park.

Summer camps were delayed a bit this year due to COVID-19 but ran with morning and afternoon camps through the end of July.

Cisneros made sure campers wore masks and practiced social distancing.

In addition, the studio is available for special events, scouting meetings and birthday parties.

“I’m pretty much working every weekend with birthday parties,” Cisneros says. “I love it because the kids love it. In fact, I’ve had several come back to celebrate their birthday here three years in a row.”

Cisneros is thrilled to be sharing her love of art with the Zionsville community because, as she says, “Art has the power to transform us.”

Palette Community Art Center is located at 295 South Main Street in Zionsville. For more information, call 317-999-5691 or visit itsaspacetocreate.com.

BIKE TO BE HEARD

Boone County Bike Ride Promotes Social Justice & Diversity

Event founders Bill True and Aaron Williams

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This is a joint effort to fight systemic racism and promote social justice.

Photographer / Amy Payne

A new event in Zionsville recently wrapped up its inaugural outing with great community response.

On July 18 more than 600 residents in Boone County got together for the Bike to Be Heard event. The new event, started by Zionsville resident Aaron Williams, was a joint effort to unify Hoosiers in promoting social justice and diversity.

The family-friendly, community-led bike ride started at the former Lids Headquarters in Zionsville and traveled through parts of Boone, Hamilton and surrounding counties.

atZionsville.com / AUGUST 2020 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / 21

The 5.4-mile route was closed off to traffic and led by a full police escort in what was a memorable night for the inaugural event.

“This is a joint effort to fight systemic racism and promote social justice,” Williams says. “An additional piece of this is we also want to show support and solidarity for increasing our police and community relations. It was a ride to come together alongside our law enforcement partners and community and government officials as one, united family.”

Williams aims to make Bike to Be Heard an annual event that continues to grow and promote diversity and social justice.

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Residents and business owners in any of the 12 Indy metro communities being served by the Towne Post Network can now subscribe to our monthly print magazines for FREE! While we try to mail to as many people as possible, some are left out due to their proximity, demographics, or most recently COVID-19 restrictions on public racks. Now, anyone who wants our monthly print magazines can get them.

Visit: TownePost.com/subscriptions Print + Digital Magazine Subscriptions = FREE